November 1, 2024

Friends, 

In light of the recent escalating incident of transnational aggression initiated by the Indian government, FIACONA has joined with other human rights advocacy organizations to sign this urgent letter addressed to the US Secretary of State and the US Secretary of the Treasury.

Please share this letter widely with your churches, churches, elected representatives, denominations and media contacts. 

The Honorable Antony Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

The Honorable Janet Yellen
Secretary of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20220

Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Yellen,

We, the undersigned, call on you to impose immediate and comprehensive travel and financial sanctions on India’s Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah, following revelations by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Shah allegedly orchestrated illegal extortion and assassination operations within Canada.

We also urge similar sanctions against India’s National Security Advisor, Mr. Ajit Doval, who oversees the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s intelligence agency that, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice, attempted to collaborate with an undercover U.S. agent to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City last year.

The Justice Department release said that a RAW official named Vikash Yadav, “working with others… directed a plot to assassinate” a Sikh American who is a vocal critic of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s government. US Attorney General Merick Garland said the “Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to target and endanger Americans and to undermine the rights to which every U.S. citizen is entitled.”

Prime Minister Trudeau this week said Canada had “clear and compelling evidence” that India’s agents had engaged in activities posing “significant threats to public safety.”

The RCMP said it had uncovered evidence implicating India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist murdered near Vancouver in June 2023. Its investigation has linked Indian agents to homicides, violent acts, and the use of organized crime targeting the South Asian community in Canada, as well as interference in Canada’s democratic processes. Per the Washington Post, Canadian officials identified Shah as the senior official in India authorizing these acts.

As Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, said that Verma and five other diplomas were expelled based on “ample, clear, and concrete evidence” against them, we also urge you to extend financial and travel sanctions to Verma and these other diplomats.

Amit Shah’s alleged involvement in transnational repression presents a clear case for sanctions under U.S. law, including the Global Magnitsky Act.

Doval’s leadership role in RAW and the assassination plot against Pannun would similarly make him liable for U.S. sanctions.

Such sanctions should also apply to the family members of Shah, Doval, and the diplomats. Taken together, they would send a powerful message that the U.S. opposes political violence, reaffirming its commitment to justice and human rights.

Sincerely,

American Muslim Institution
Asian Children’s Education Fellowship
Council for Social Justice New Jersey
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Dalit Solidarity Forum
Ensaaf
Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America
Genocide Watch
Hindus for Human Rights
Indian American Muslim Council
Islamic Circle of North America NY
Jakara Movement
Justice For All
Muslims for Progressive Values-NY
New York State Council of Churches
Sikh assembly of America
Sikh Coalition
The National Council for Minorities in Yemen
World Without Genocide

Few Links:

Contact
Rev. Neal Christie 
Executive Director
FIACONA—Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America
& Principal
TRNP—The Religious Nationalisms Project 

Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA)
110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 303, Washington, DC 20002 P: 202-285-4544
www.fiacona.org